Hello All,
Peter says he wants in the discussion  so guess we will do on BEE-L.

Chuck said:
 However, caution should be given as HFCS should be given only in the spring
as the solids it contains are difficult for bee digestion; and, sugar
syurp(IMHO) is a better feed in the fall.

I have posted many times that I feel sugar syrup is a better feed but
fructose runs a close second. Bulk sugar is expensive unless bought as
scrape. A scrape load was bid on last week but the deal did not go through.
So we are left with 42% or 55% to use.

 As far as feeding fructose only in the spring.

I have heard the above for years from many sources from beekeepers to
researchers. Maybe even in one of Chuck Norton's talks at a national
convention.

However:

We have fed fructose for many years for winter feed without a problem. In
other words if bees are needing feed and all you can get is fructose then
its fructose the bees get.

 I have not seen any dysentary in years and i suppose dysentary (which kills
bees) is the main reason for Chuck saying what he did.

Maybe Allen will comment about fructose feeding in colder than Missouri
climates? I do not recall Allen feeding fructose but fructose is the syrup
Dadant and most bee supply houses in the U.S. sell and is the easiest for us
to get. 42% is available with a trip to "Oz" (Kansas). 55% is only available
off the tanker.

Bob

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